It actually is native to Brazil, an evergreen in warmer places than Central Florida. For us, in USDA zone 9a, it gets very unhappy in the winter, enjoying neither cold (lows occasionally at or a bit below freezing) nor drought. It barely rains from November to June. When the rains return though, and temperatures push into the 80's and 90's, new leaves cover the plant and it flowers. Ours flowers, usually three times a year.
I read that it's an evergreen that it reaches five feet tall with large leaves. In four years, ours is staying about two feet tall, mostly defoliates every winter, and has never had leaves more than two inches long. That size works for us as it stays nicely below the screen porch windows.
Despite preferring ideally warmer temperatures than ours, I grew it successfully in zone 7a just north of the Washington DC. It died to the ground in winter but came back in late spring until finally succumbing to a severe cold spell.
1 comment:
Such a cheerful PINK flower , reliable blooming as long as there is water
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